Thanya Nathan C., a 24‑year‑old lawyer from Kerala who has been totally blind since birth, is set to make history as the first visually challenged woman judge in the state’s judicial service. She secured the top rank in the merit list for persons with benchmark disabilities in the Civil Judges (Junior Division) examination conducted by the Kerala High Court, marking a landmark moment for inclusion in India’s legal system.
Another candidate with disability, Joyson Sajan, who lives with cerebral palsy, secured the second position in the same category. Ms. Nathan’s success follows a landmark Supreme Court judgment in 2025 that affirmed the eligibility of visually impaired candidates for judicial service selections, ensuring they cannot be excluded solely due to disability.
Her achievement has elicited praise from legal professionals, disability rights advocates, and members of the public who view it as a pivotal step towards dismantling barriers for persons with disabilities in public life. State officials and senior lawyers have emphasised not just her personal triumph but also its wider symbolic value for equality in India’s justice system.
A Historic Achievement for Disability Inclusion
Thanya Nathan’s journey is remarkable not only for her academic success but for the broader message it sends about inclusion and equal opportunity. Born blind, Ms. Nathan pursued legal studies at Kannur University, where she adapted to rigorous legal texts and examinations using Braille books and advanced screen‑reading software. Despite the challenges inherent in a profession that demands intensive reading of evidence, statutes, and case law, she rose to the top of her category in one of the nation’s most competitive judicial examinations.
Her success is backed by recent judicial reforms and interpretations of constitutional rights. In 2025, the Supreme Court of India held that persons with visual impairments cannot be excluded from judicial services simply because of their disability and must have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in competitive examinations. This judgment has been widely seen as a rights‑based affirmation of the equality guarantee under the Constitution and a directive for providing affirmative support so that persons with disabilities are placed on an equal footing.
Legal experts say that her selection heralds a new chapter for the Indian judiciary one that recognises competence beyond conventional physical expectations. “This is not just about breaking a glass ceiling,” said one senior advocate familiar with the examination process, “it is a reaffirmation of the promise of equal justice under law.”
Broader Shift Towards Accessibility in the Judiciary
The Civil Judges (Junior Division) examination conducted by the Kerala High Court tests candidates on legal knowledge, interpretation of statutes, procedural law, and judicial reasoning core competencies required for adjudication at the entry level of the subordinate judiciary.
Traditionally, persons with severe visual impairment faced structural barriers, from lack of accessible legal materials to assumptions about suitability for judicial work. Ms. Nathan’s success challenges these assumptions and reflects changing legal and social attitudes.
Ms. Nathan’s achievement also comes at a time when the representation of women in the judiciary has been steadily increasing in Kerala. Recent data show that nearly half of the district judicial officer cadre comprises women, reflecting a broader push for gender parity in legal institutions. While this shift has been noted primarily in terms of gender representation, the inclusion of candidates with disabilities represents a parallel and equally necessary evolution in public service recruitment.
Moreover, the trajectory of disability rights in Indian law has been marked by proactive judicial intervention. Beyond the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling on judicial service eligibility, High Courts have issued multiple directions aimed at enhancing accessibility from mandating barrier‑free access in temples for devotees with disabilities to enforcing scholarships and support for disabled students. These rulings reflect a broader jurisprudential emphasis on reasonable accommodation and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities across public life.
Advocates for disability rights point to the ripple effects of such legal developments, arguing that Ms. Nathan’s appointment will encourage institutions to invest in accessible infrastructure, including digital tools, Braille conversions of legal texts, and court‑level accommodations that make justice work feasible for all qualified candidates.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we see Thanya Nathan’s success as more than an individual accomplishment it is a testament to what can be achieved when institutional barriers are challenged and opportunities are genuinely made inclusive. Ensuring that persons with disabilities can participate fully in professional and public life is not merely a legal obligation; it is fundamental to strengthening India’s democratic and constitutional ethos.
This historic milestone highlights the importance of equal opportunity, reasonable accommodation, and active institutional support. The judiciary, often seen as the guardian of rights, has taken a significant step forward by opening its doors wider to diverse talents. Yet, the journey towards full inclusion is ongoing. True accessibility will require continued investment in education, technology, infrastructure, and attitudinal shifts across professions.
